I am buying residence in Mere. My lawyer is not on the lender solicitor list. Can I still retain my Mere conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the lender panel?
Your options include
- Proceed with your existing Mere conveyancer but your mortgage company will need to use a conveyancing practitioner from their conveyancing panel. The net result is additional charges together with probable delay.
- Choose a new property lawyer to act in the purchase, making sure they are on the bank conveyancing panel.
- Appeal to your property lawyer to seek to join the mortgage company panel
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Mere. My lender is Platform
Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 15/4/2025, the requirements read as follows :
I purchased my flat on 12 February and my personal details is yet to be registered. Should I be concerned? My conveyancing solicitor in Mere expressed confidence that it would be recorded in less than a month. Are transfers in Mere particularly slow to register?
As far as conveyancing in Mere registration is no faster or slower than anywhere else in England and Wales. As opposed to being determined by geographic area, timeframes can vary depending on the party submitting the application, whether it is in order and whether the Land registry need to notify any other persons or bodies. Currently roughly three quarters of submission are fully addressed in less than three weeks but some can be subject to extensive delays. Historically registration is effected once the purchaser is living at the property therefore 'speed' is not usually primary concern yet where there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your conveyancer should speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.
How does conveyancing in Mere differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Mere approach us having been asked by the seller to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is constructed. This is because developers in Mere usually purchase the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Mere or who has acted in the same development.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Mere is the location of the property. What do you suggest?
Flying freeholds in Mere are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Mere you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Mere may ascertain that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.
I have just appointed agents to market my garden apartment in Mere. Conveyancing has not commenced, but I have recently had a quarterly maintenance charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?
Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should discharge the maintenance contribution as usual given that all ground rent and service charges should be allotted as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.
Mere Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to buying
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Be sure to discover if the the lease contains any onerous restrictions in the lease. By way of example plenty of leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Mere. If you like the flatin Mere however your dog is not allowed to live with you then you have a very hard decision. Many Mere leasehold flats will be liable to pay a service charge for maintenance of the block invoiced by the freeholder. Where you purchase the flat you will have to pay this contribution, normally periodically throughout the year. This could be anything from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. There will also be a ground rent to be met yearly, this is usually not a exorbitant sum, say around £50-£100 but you need to enquire it because occasionally it could be many hundreds of pounds.